zachos



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

3321301103. TYPE WRITER FOR STENOGRAPHIC PURPOSES. No. 334,330.

Patented Jan. 19, 1886.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. G. ZAGHOS.

TYPE WRITER FOR STENOGRAPHIG PURPOSES.

' No. 334,630. Patented Jan. 19,1886.

N. PETERS Phuw-Lnho n her, wami glan. D. C.

ll'ruTan STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JOHN C. ZAOHOS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-WRITER FOR STENOGRAPHEC PURPOSE3.

EPE JAZ'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,630, dated January 19, 1886.

Application filed October 15, 1884. Serial No. 145.556. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. ZAOHOS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved TypeWVriter for Printing a Stenographic Text for Reporting Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my stenophonotype-printing instrument or type-writer, one end embracing a portion of the key-board being broken away and the cover over the printing mechanism at the other being removed; Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section of so much of the instrument as is shown in Fi 1; Fig. 3, a detailed side elevation of the printing'key and its connections detached; Fig. 4, a detached cross-section of the keyboard illustrating one row or column of keys, and Fig. 5 a view in perspective of one of the rows or columns of keys, the printkey being omitted; Fig. 6, aplan of one of the key-plates detached; Fig. 7, a plan view of the improved keyboard alone, and Fig. 8 illustrates a modification in the mechanism for setting the type.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This invention relates to a novel arrangement in a key-board of keys bearing letters and characters representing an improvedstenophenotype alphabet and text for the purpose of facilitating, by means of suitable mechanism, the printing of this stenophonic text at a reporting speed, and to the mechanism for accon'iplishing this result. The improved keyboard embraces ninety-six keys, arranged in sixteen columns ofsixletters each, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings. These keys, by reason of their peculiar shape,

. order of arrangement, and mechanical con nection with the devices used to set a series of types in their proper place and order for printing, admit of being so touched simultaneously in combinations of two or more keys as that whole words and phrases can be printed at one move or stroke of the hand, as chords are struck on a piano, and this key-board, with the peculiar shape of its keys designed for cooperation, and the number, order, and

special place thereon for each letter, facilitating their instantaneous action in forming words, constitutes the most important feature of my improvement in type-writers for reporting purposes.

Of the sixteen columns of keys, the first three (numbered 1, 2, and 3 in said Fig. 7) are devoted to letters that indicate short and oft-recurring words in the composition of English. The next three columns (numbers 4, 5, and 6) are devoted to such consonant sounds as precede the vowel sounds. The succeeding eight columns (numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14:) are devoted to an arbitrary arrangement of letters, as shown in the drawings, such as will always secure the right number and order of letters that occur after the vowel-sign in the spelling of words by means of the system of stenophonotypes and include also the period, dash, (,)and moneynrark, (55.) The ten digits are contained in the last two columns, (numbers 15 and 16.) These special letters and characters and their order of arrangement on the keyboard are clearly illustrated in the drawings, and need no further description in this connection. In the special mechanism adapted, as hereinafter described, for use in setting and printing types corresponding to the characters on said keyboard as fast as the keys can be depressed,

either singly or in suitable combinations, all

the keys pertaining to each of the columns in the key-board are so placed as to rest upon one and the same lever, and the keys are so constructed and arranged in each column as that each will, when pressed upon, push down the lever to a different degree, whereby six different degrees of inclination of the lever may be produced, one for each key.

The six keys in each of the respective columns are all supported upon a wide plate,A, (see Figs. 6, 4t, and 5,) pivoted at each end to the sides 13 B of the frame or case of the instrument. From each plate A an arm, A, depends at a right angle thereto. The plate is made slightly tapering from end to end, and the pivot-pins a a, upon which the plate turns, are placed at one side of the middle line thereof, and the pivotal axis is thereby brought near to one of the longitudinal edges of the plate, but parallel with the opposite edge, as shown in Fig. 6.

The keys in each column-as, for instance,

R-(see column 13 in Fig. 7) are each elongated in form, and are supported with their longest axes parallel to the sides of the instrument and at a right angle with the length of the oscillating plateA beneath them by means of a pin, 12, at one end, (see Figs. 2, 4, and 5,) which, passing freely through two horizontal partitions or plates, F F, in the instrument, rests upon the free, movable edge of the plate A. A second stoppin, 0, projects parallel with the supporting-pin b from the opposite end of the key through apertures in the partitions F F, and serves, by contact with the pivotal edge of the plate A, to prevent the further tipping thereof by pressure upon the keys. The plate A is kept, by means hereinafter described, normally in an inclined position,with its free edge against the operative pins 1) b of all the keys in the row,-the ends of the stop-pins c cbeing lifted thereby above the plate, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The stop-pins 0 sin each row are all of the same length, but the supporting or operative pins b b diminish in length in regular order, each to the same degree, from the bottom or front to the top or rear of the row, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) so that when they all rest upon the upper edge of the inclined plate A the key at the foot of the rowas, for example, the

key R in row 13, Fig. 7-shall be elevated above the upper partition, F, say, one thirtysecond of an inch. The next key, N, will be lifted one-sixteenth of an inch; the next, T, three thirty-seconds of an inch; the next, S,

one-eighth of an inch; the next, L, five thirty seconds of an inch, and, the upper one, M, one-fourth of an inch. Hence, by means ofsix keys in each column, six different degrees of movement may be imparted to each keyplate A and its arm A, (see Fig. 2,) each key, when depressed, acting on the plate to move it to an extent corresponding to the degree of its own movement.

In view of the consecutive arrangement of the keys by which they have successively a progressively increasing movement from the bottom to the top of the row or column, if any two or more of the keys in the same column are touched simultaneously the effect will be to obtain the greater depression only of the plate, due to the movement of that key that is depressed nearest the top of the column, the-minimum depression being obtained by striking the lowermost key only. This device permits the shortest possible length of each row or column and the shortest possible movement of each key in the attainment of the desired result, while the keys are made to co-operate without mutual interference in setting the type. The handis carriedfrom the left to the right in the setting of the type for any word or phrase by means of the keys of the several columns in succession, two or three at once, and one letter or character only is selected from a row between the type.

or column at each movement of the hand, the depression of any one key in either column operating surely and independently of all other keys to move its appropriate type and set it simultaneously with others on a line of print.

Each key-plate is fitted with an arm, A, depending ata right angle therefrom, and these arms A A depend from the several key-pl ates A A, each in a different vertical longitudinal plane, to admit of connection by a series of parallel wires, A A, Figs. 1 and 5, each to the lower end of one of a series of parallel sectors D D, Figs. 1 and 2, oscillating independently upon a common pivotal shaft, D, Figs. 1 and 2,which is mounted in line parallel with the pivotal axis of the oscillating key-plates A A, within a chamber formed at one end of the case beyond the end-of the key-board.

The arrangement of the sectors D D and of the printing devices combined therewith is as follows: The peripheral portion of each sectorv D is turned away, as shown in Fig. 2, from the end of the key-board, and upon its upper portion are fitted six types, 6 e 0, corresponding, respectively, in their character and order of arrangement with the letters or characters on the six keys in the column over the oscillating key-plate with which that particular sector is connected. The lower portion of said curved or peripheral face of the sector is notched with ratchet-teeth f f f, six in number, the intervals between the teeth being made to correspond exactly with the intervals Each pivoted sectoris automatically upheld in position with the center of its peripheral type-face, tangential to a transverse plane at right angles tothe length of the instrument by means of a spring, E, Fig. 2, its further upward movement being arrested by a transverse stop-bar, G. The ratchet-teeth or detent-notches f f f are adapted to be engaged when the sector is drawn downward by a hook upon the end of the longer arm of one of a series of detent-levers, H H, (see Fig. 2,) pivoted upon a fixed transverse rod, H, to oscillate each independently of the other and eachin the same longitudinal plane as one of the sectors, in the rear of and below the same. Said arms are each carried up antomatically against the face of its appropriate sector by a spring, 0, (see Fig. 2,) upon a fixed transverse bar, 0. A transverse rod, k, extends under the outer shorter arms of said levers, being secured at each end to the free ends of arms i 2', whose lower ends are pivoted, respectively, to the two parallel longitudinal bars 0 O of a swinging frame suspended near to the bottom of the case on the ends of vertical swinging bars PP, and are automatically car- IIO ried upward by a spring, m. The swinging susrock-shaft, 0 (see Figs. 3 and 4t, mounted midway of the length of the case. The bars O,thus suspended,are made to swing forward and backward by means of a crank-lever, 0 (see Fig. 3,) projecting from the central rockshaft, 0 at right angles to the arms P P, conneeting the shaft with the frame, said lever O being pivoted at its outer end to abar, O projecting from a plate or print-key, 0, extending the entire length of the key-board at its front edge. (See Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 7.) This plate 0 is upheld upon springs gg, (see Fig. 3,) ,which permit a limited depression thereof, and the depression of the plate, oper ating through the connecting-bar 0* upon the lever 0 will, by causing the shaft 0 to oscillate, throw forward the frame 0 0, its automatic return being produced by the action of said springsgg when pressure is removed from the plate.

Levers Q Q (see Fig. 2) are pivoted, one on each side of the case, to a transverse rod, Q, near the top thereof, so as to depend therefrom each in an inclined position tangential to the periphery of the sectors D D, the lower end of each lever being made to rest loosely upon the outer end of one of two short arms, Q, pivoted each at its inner end to the side bars, 0, of the swinging frame orupon a crossbar connecting said levers. A spring, at, (see Fig. 2,) is inserted under each arm Q to hold it up, while its upward movement is arrested by a stop, it, engaging a lug, a, projecting from the pivoted end of the arm, as shown in the dotted lines.

A transverse impression plate or bar, U, is carried across from one lever Q to the other in position just below the lowest row of types on the sectors when they are elevated and at rest, and pads are fitted upon thisimpressioa plate, one for each sector, to bear against the face of the type when the type is brought into register therewith.

A reel of paper, V, is mounted in suitable bearings at the end of the case, and the paper ribbon thereon is led thence over the series of pads upon the impression-plate U, and thence down over a friction-roller, U, mounted between the levers Q; Q, and thence under a second roller, U and over a fixed transverse horizontal bed-plate,U*, whose ends are secured to the sides B B of the case, and thence out from the case, as illustratcdin Fig. 2. The paper is automatically drawn forward from the reel at each forward movement of the swinging frame by means of a series of teeth, NV \V, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) mounted upon a transverse bar, W, fitted between two swinging arms, W W whose upper ends are pivoted to the rod Q, inside of the bars Q Q, carrying the impression plate and pads, and which, depending vertically, are connected to the side bars, 0 0, of the swinging frame by means of pins projecting therefrom through longitudinal slots e in the lower ends of the arms. (See Fig. 2.)

In the operation of the instrument,any number of the types up to sixteen may, it need be, be brought into line or register with the impression-platens for imprint and simultaneously imprinted to form one line of print on the slip during one movement of the hand from left to right over the keys. This being done, the types are automatically returned to their first positions in readiness to be set for the imprint of a second line, the paper being in the meantime automatically fed forward, all in manner as follows: By a pressure of the finger upon the appropriate key in any one of the sixteen columns of keys, the plate A, upon which that particular column of keys rests, will be tipped to a degree corresponding to the position of the particular key in the. column, and the arm A, being thereby swung back to a corresponding degree, will, through the intervening wire, A draw down the sector D, to which it is attached, to a correspond ing extent. So soon as the sector is thus drawn down, it is automatically detained by the engagement of the detent-lever H with one of the ratchet-teeth or detent-notchesf; hence, if the lowermost key in a column-for example, theletterRin column 18, Fig. 7is depressed, the minimum oscillation of the plateAis produced, and its appropriate type-sector D will be drawn down but oneinterval only, thereby bringing the lowest of the series of types on the sector into line for print. If, however, the uppermost key in the column be struck-as, for example. key M, in said column 13-the plate is oscillated to its maximum, and thesee tor D will be drawn downthereby to its full extent, thus bringing the uppermost typeinto line for print. The letters or characters for one line of print upon the strip of paper are at one move of the hand from left to right over the key-board, and the number, repetition, and order of the keys are such, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, as that the characters for whole words and phrases are brought within the span of the fingers, so as to admit of setting all the type therefor simultaneously at one stroke, in like manner as the several notes in a chord admit of being struck simultaneously upon the piano. So soon as one line of type upon the sectors is thus brought into position for print, pressure is applied upon the print-key Figs. 1 and 3, by the thumb or ball of the hand resting thereon. The consequent depression of this print-key operates through the intervening crank-arm U, rock-shaft O and arm P to swing forward the bars 0 O, and their forward movement will carry the inclined arms 11 z forward under the short arm of the detentlever H, while at the same time the free end of each of the pivoted arms Q. (or the crossbar connecting them,) is carried under and past the lowest ends of the impression-levers Q Q, the springs m in under said arms allowing them to be depressed sufficiently to pass freely forward, and causing them to bear up against the levers after passing their ends.

:05 thus selected from the sixteen colu mns of keys Said movement will furthermore cause ,the feed-fingers WV W to force forward the strip of paper upon which they bear a distance equal to the space required between the lines of print thereon. The upward movement of the print-key produced automatically by the springsgg, so soon as the pressure ofthe thumb or hand thereon is removed, will operate to produce a reverse movement or return of the bars 0 0, thereby drawing the feed-fingers W W back over the paper in position for the next feed, and at the same time the arms Q and immediately thereafter the cross-rod it,"

carried by the inclined arms 6 t. passing back from under the end of the detent-levers H, will lift them sufficiently to withdraw their opposite ends from their engagement with the sectors D D, so as to permit said sectors to swing back automatically to their first position, as shown in Fig. 2. The apparatus is thereupon in readiness for a repetition of these type setting and printing movements, wherein the downward stroke of the finger is made to set the type, and of the thumb or hand to move the paper, while the automatic return of the print-key as the hand is lifted produces the imprint and readjusts the operative devices.

. As the sectors move up and down, the type thereon are inked by contact with an elastic inking-pad, K, (see Fig. 2,) fixed to contact therewith above the impression plate and pads U.

It is evident that the keys may be arranged so that their movement when depressed shall be arrested by contact with the upper plate, F, or other stop devices on the case or frame, instead of by the contact of a stop-pin, 0, projecting from the key to strike the rocking plate A, and that the movement of said plate may likewise be limited and arrested as required by means of a stop device on the ease or frame, "instead of by a stop-pin, c, on the key, and the use of such equivalent devices is contemplated, although the combination of a stop-pin, c, with the supporting-pin I) on each key, as described, is preferred as being neater, simpler, and more effective. It is also manifest that a series of parallel straight bars, D", reciprocating in suitable ways, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, may be substituted for the series of parallel pivoted sectors reciprocating upon a common axis to carry the type and bring them singly, as required, into a common line for print, the bars being actuated by the movement of the oscillating plates A and arms A in like manner as are the sectors,

and such equivalent devices are contemplated in this invention, the necessary modification of the mechanism for producing a feed of the paper forward, and for carrying it against the type and thereafter releasing the typecarriers in connect-ion with the sliding bars, being such as will readily suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic.-

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, in a typewriter, with a reciprocating carrier fitted with a series of type and actuated by a spring to move the type automatically out of line for print, of a rocking plate whose pivotal axis is in the direction of its length, an arm, A, projecting from said plate at rightangles to its axis and coupled to the type-carrier by a rod or chain, and a series of keys corresponding in number with the type on the type-carrier and sup ported upon the free edge of the rocking plate in a line parallel with its axis by means of pins graduated in length, whereby the depression of either key shall operate to bring the type appropriate to said key into proper position for print, substantiallyin the manner, and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, in a type-writer, with a key-board constructed of a series of columns of keys, each column resting upon a single rocking plate whose axis is parallel with the length of the column, of a series of reciproeating type-carriers corresponding to thenumber of columns'of keys and bearing in order each a series of type corresponding to the characters designated in the same order by the several columns of keys, the type being severally brought to a common line of print each by the movement of the rocking plate under its appropriate key, and of an arm'fitted to said plate and coupled with the type-carrier by a rod or cord, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, in a type-writer, 'with a reciprocating type-carrier fitted with a'seactuated in one direction by aspring to carry the type out of line of print, and with a series of keys and a rocking plate and arm actuated by said keys and coupled to said type-carrier, each to produce by its depression a different degree of movement in the type-carrier in the opposite direction, of a spring-seated print key or plate upon the key-board, supported to move independently of the type-keys, a bar or bars reciprocating to and from the typecarrier, a crank-lever interposed between the print key or plate and the reciprocating bars to cause the latter to move forward toward the type-carrier by the depression of the printkey and by its elevation to retract the same, and a pivoted spring-actuated detent-lever engaging automatically the ratchet-teeth or detent-notches on the type-carrier and released therefrom by the reverse movement of the bar IIO ries of type and a corresponding series of ratchet-teeth or detent-notehes, and which is;

or bars as the printkey rises, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination, in a type-writer, with a reciprocating type-carrier, a spring actuating the same in one direction, and rocking plate and arm supporting a series of typekeys and coupled with the type-carrier to actuate it in the opposite direction, of a springseated print key or plate, 0", upon a keyboard moving independently of its type-keys, bars 0 O, reciprocating to and from the typecarrier, interposed connecting crank-levers l and O oper. ting when the print-plate is depressed to move the bars forward and when the plate is elevated by its spring to retract the same, and a lever, Q, governed by a spring-actuated catch-bar, Q", and which, carrying an impression plate or platen, swings to and from the type on the type-carrier, and is automatically moved toward the type-carrier so as to force the platen against the type broughtinto register therewith at each returnmovement of the bars 0 0, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination, in a type-writer, with the spring-supported print key or plate 0 of the longitudinally-reciprocating bars 0 O, the crank-arms O" P, interposed between the bars and print-plate, the swinging arms WV, the teeth W, carried thereby, and the feed-table U over which said teeth play, whereby the paperled from the impression-plate U over the table U is fed forward by the movement of the teeth at each downward stroke of the print key or plate, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. The combination, in a type-writer, with a series of type-carriers, D D, set in position for print by the movement of a series of type-keys in a suitable key-board, substantially as described, and with a series of pivoted detent-levers, H, each engaging and holding automatically one of the type-carriers when moved by its appropriate key into position for print, and

with impression-levers Q, and an impression plate, U, carrying a strip of paper against the type set for print, of a spring-seated print key or 1 plate, 0 in the key-board, reciprocating-bars O 0, moving back and forth beneath the detent and impression levers, crank-arms and P, connecting said bars with the print-key, and spring-actuated arms i and Q, pivoted to the bars 0, to actuate the detent and impression levers, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. The combination, i11atype-writer,with a key-board embracing a series of type-keys arranged in rows or columns, each of which rests upon a single rocking plate, A, interposed arms A, rods A reciprocating sectors or type-carriers D, and with a series of detentlevers, H, automatically detaining said typecarriers each at the end of its movement, of a single extended transverse spring-actuated print key or plate, 0 connections, substantially as described, whereby the key produces by its automatic upward movement a movement of the impression-lever Q, to carry the paper against the types on the type-carriers, and a subsequent movement of the detent-levers H, to cause their release from engagement with the type-carriers, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

8. In a type-writing machine for stenographic purposes, the combination, substantially as described, with a key-board embracing fourteen or more columns of six keys or more each, and with a rocking plate under each column, of a series of pivoted sectors, one for each column, each bearing types corresponding, respectively, to the characters on the several keys of its appropriate column, and each connected with one of the rocking plates by an interposed link and arm, whereby several keys and type-carriers are made to cooperate and simultaneously set several types on the same line of print, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. C. ZACHOS.

\Vitnesses:

J OHN A. ELLIs, A. B. MOORE. 

